Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 377

Sessional Papers 議政定例兩局文件 All

37

373

ing was but 0.08 inch below the normal of the month. It was not until after 6 p. (29.68) that a steady but moderate fall commenced, but after 10 p. (29.70) the fall became a rapid one and at mid- night the reading was 29.63. Calms and light airs from various directions prevailed during the morning, but after noon the direction became northerly of force 2. A slight thundershower occurred at 3 p. with the wind at E, a moderate breeze, but later it fell light again from a N to NE direction. At 8 p., the centre being then distant 130 miles only to the SE of the Colony, the wind increased to a moderate breeze from NE by N which continued until 10 p. At the latter hour lanterns, indicating bad weather, were hoisted, and at 11 p. the wind had increased to force 7 and the gun was then fired, and notice given of the approaching gale. Lightning was seen in the west at this hour and the sky which had been partially clouded only during the day was now overcast. At Breaker Point, the barometer was practically steady the whole day, but the wind increased to a strong breeze from NE during the evening and the weather became showery.

This typhoon was in marked contrast to the preceding one in respect of the area affected. On September 18th, while the previous typhoon was in the northern part of the China Sea, the isobar of 29.70 was situated at a distance of about 500 miles and fresh gales prevailed at a distance of about 250 miles from the centre in the northern semicircle while in the disturbance now under consideration, although the depression at the centre was probably greater by about 0.25 inch, the isobar of 29.70 was situated at a distance of about 150 miles only and no more than moderate breezes prevailed at a distance of between 150 and 200 miles from the centre. Small typhoons of the latter class are, there- fore, especially dangerous as they give so short notice of their approach as indicated either by denes- ing pressure or by increasing wind force.

At sea on the 24th the bark Japan encountered the centre at 8 p. The first observation of the barometer they entered in the log book was inade at noou and, at that time, the vessel being situated at a distance of about 80 miles to the NW of the centre they had a whole gale from ENE with rain- squalls and a high cross sea. The wind backed to NE and blew with typhoon force at 4 p. (29.05) and at 8 p. they had the barometric minimum, 28.55, and the wind fell calm for about half an hour, the sky remaining dark and rain continuing to fall. The wind came again from SE, of force 12, with rising barometer. No further information is given as to the wind, but the barometer reading 28.75 is given for 9 p. and 29.35 for 10 p. which gives the enormous gradient of about 0.9 inch in 15 miles if these observations are correct. The vessel sustained considerable damage aloft, her starboard bulwarks were stove in and the vessel sprang a leak, but next day she was able to proceed back to Hongkong. The S.S. Progress was steering for Hongkong and experienced a whole gale from SW during the morning backing to S and SSE and decreasing towards the evening. At 8 p. the baro- meter had risen to 29.69 with the wind a fresh gale from SSE. At noon this vessel was to the SSE of the centre at a distance of about 80 miles. The S.S. Lightning was at a distance of 170 miles to W by N of the centre at noon and steering for Hongkong. At 8 p. the wind increased to a strong breeze from NNW accompanied by high sea and swell, but the barometer which read 29.73 showed little or no fall since noon. At midnight, the barometer having begun to fall quickly, the vessel was very properly turned round and they stood to the SSE. The S.S. Machew also steering for Hong- kong had the wind increasing suddenly from the N during the evening.

At noon on the 25th the centre was situated in 21° 40,′ 113° 10,′ and it must have entered the coast near St. John's Island ́about two hours later. The disturbance had maintained its speed of about 10 miles per hour between this and the preceding day, but its course had been changed to NW by W. It passed about 60 miles to the SSW of Hongkong at 9 a. at which hour the barometer, which had fallen rapidly during the early morning, registered the minimum, 29.42. The wind had increased to a strong gale at 4 a. from NE by E and at 6 a., when the gun was fired two rounds indicating that typhoon force of wind might be expected, a whole gale from ENE was blowing, the record of the anemograph showing a velocity at the rate of 67 miles per hour. At 8 a. typhoon force was expe- rienced from ENE which continued until after 10 a. the direction having in the meantime veered to E by S. The highest hourly velocity registered by the anemograph was 86 miles for 9 a. noon the wind rapidly decreased in force and at 3 p, a moderate gale only from SE was blowing and this continued until midnight when the barometer had risen to 29.75. Heavy rain fell in the squalls throughout the day, the total precipitation for the 24 hours being 5.78 inches. At Gap Rock the barometric minimum, 29.10, was at 10 a. with typhoon force of wind from ESE. At Macao, the baro- meter fell to 29.24 at 11 a. the strongest wind, a fresh gale from E, being recorded at this time.

P. the barometer had risen to 29.63 and the wind had decreased to a gentle breeze from S. At Hoihow, a strong W breeze prevailed during inidday, but it decreased in the evening. The weather was rainy accompanied by thunder and lightning.

8

After

The S.S. Machew had the centre passing just to the north of her position at 10.30 a. At mid- night of the 24th their barometer read 29,67, but it then fell with great rapidity to 29.44 at 4 a. on the 25th, the wind at the same time increasing to a strong or whole gale from NE and N. At 8 a. the barometer read 29.15 and the wind had backed to NNW of force 11 to 12. At 10 a. it was from NW by W and half an hour later the barometric minimum (28.58) was registered. At 11 a. the wind had backed to SW by W and the barometer commenced rising. At 4 p. the wind was from S of force 10, decreasing, and the barometer had risen to 29.46. The S.S. Hailoong, on the righthand

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.